Genesis 41:21 - and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
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What does "Genesis 41:21" mean?
This verse is part of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream in Genesis 41. To understand it, we need to look at the context:
Pharaoh's Dream: Pharaoh dreamed of seven healthy, fat cows being devoured by seven ugly, thin cows. He also dreamed of seven healthy ears of grain being swallowed by seven withered ears of grain.
Joseph's Interpretation: Joseph interprets the dreams as predicting seven years of abundance in Egypt, followed by seven years of severe famine.
Now, let's break down Genesis 41:21:
"and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them..." This means that after the thin cows consumed the fat cows, there was no visible improvement in their appearance. They remained thin and emaciated.
"...but they were still ugly, as at the beginning." This emphasizes that the act of consuming the abundance did not improve the state of the thin cows. They were still in the same poor condition as before.
"So I awoke." Pharaoh is recounting his dream, and this marks the end of that part of the dream he's describing.
The Meaning in Terms of the Famine:
The key takeaway is that the famine will be so severe that it will completely consume the abundance of the seven plentiful years without leaving any lasting benefit. Even after consuming all the surplus, the land and its people will remain in a state of lack and distress, "as at the beginning."
Here's how to relate it to the famine:
The Fat Cows = Years of Abundance: Represent the years of plenty in Egypt.
The Thin Cows = Years of Famine: Represent the years of severe famine that will follow.
Eating the Fat Cows = Consuming the Surplus: The famine will consume all the stored-up grain and resources from the plentiful years.
Still Ugly = No Lasting Benefit: Even after consuming all the surplus, the famine will continue, and the land will remain desolate. The consumption will not improve the overall situation.
In essence, the verse highlights the severity and persistence of the famine. It will not be a brief shortage; it will be a prolonged period of hardship that consumes all the available resources without providing any real relief.
Genesis 41:21 - and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
What does "Genesis 41:21" mean?
This verse is part of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream in Genesis 41. To understand it, we need to look at the context:
Pharaoh's Dream: Pharaoh dreamed of seven healthy, fat cows being devoured by seven ugly, thin cows. He also dreamed of seven healthy ears of grain being swallowed by seven withered ears of grain.
Joseph's Interpretation: Joseph interprets the dreams as predicting seven years of abundance in Egypt, followed by seven years of severe famine.
Now, let's break down Genesis 41:21:
"and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them..." This means that after the thin cows consumed the fat cows, there was no visible improvement in their appearance. They remained thin and emaciated.
"...but they were still ugly, as at the beginning." This emphasizes that the act of consuming the abundance did not improve the state of the thin cows. They were still in the same poor condition as before.
"So I awoke." Pharaoh is recounting his dream, and this marks the end of that part of the dream he's describing.
The Meaning in Terms of the Famine:
The key takeaway is that the famine will be so severe that it will completely consume the abundance of the seven plentiful years without leaving any lasting benefit. Even after consuming all the surplus, the land and its people will remain in a state of lack and distress, "as at the beginning."
Here's how to relate it to the famine:
The Fat Cows = Years of Abundance: Represent the years of plenty in Egypt.
The Thin Cows = Years of Famine: Represent the years of severe famine that will follow.
Eating the Fat Cows = Consuming the Surplus: The famine will consume all the stored-up grain and resources from the plentiful years.
Still Ugly = No Lasting Benefit: Even after consuming all the surplus, the famine will continue, and the land will remain desolate. The consumption will not improve the overall situation.
In essence, the verse highlights the severity and persistence of the famine. It will not be a brief shortage; it will be a prolonged period of hardship that consumes all the available resources without providing any real relief.